I saw this in the L.A. Times Sunday magazine (intrusive registration etc. etc. use ‘laexaminer’/’laexaminer’) and assumed other bloggers would pick it up; I’m surprised that no one’s blogged this up until now, so I’ll toss it out there. The subtitle was:
His Behavior Was Bizarre. His Peers Insulted His Muslim Faith. He Was Shipped Off to Fight in Iraq. Then He Allegedly Murdered Two Army Officers.
And a sympathetic look at the Iraqi fragger follows. It opens:
Once a month Quran Bilal drives north out of Baton Rouge, La., in her black Nissan, a car so old she cannot remember its year, only that she paid $700 for it used and that the odometer has now turned 148,000 clicks. A side window is broken and the air-conditioning blows hot.
Bilal endures it because this is the only way she can visit her son, Sgt. Hasan Akbar, her eldest, who is confined to a military brig at Ft. Knox, Ky.
…
As disturbing as the attack was, Akbar’s defense is equally troubling. His mother and his military lawyers say he snapped in the face of relentless ridicule, of him and of Muslims in general. He had complained before his arrest that soldiers and officers harassed him and scared him and trampled on his religion. Moments after his arrest, according to fellow soldiers, he blurted out that he feared ”American soldiers were going to kill and rape Muslims” once Iraq was taken.
If we expect that the U.S. military is a microcosm of society, then such harassment isn’t terribly surprising, especially after Sept. 11. But if we expect the military, with its rigorous oversight and strong need for cohesive fighting units, to have less tolerance for religious harassment and other divisive forces, then Akbar’s case may provide a painful lesson of the kind the nation has wrestled with since the shootings at Columbine High School in Colorado and elsewhere where the killers felt they had been hazed or shunned by their peers.
There’s more…
Articles like this tend to make me want to gnaw my way through the newspaper.
The good defense attorneys – the $450/hour ones and the ones who take the high-profile pro-bono cases – have become masters of publicity, and I tend to look at articles like this as a salvo in the upcoming legal battle.
Even if not explicitly placed by the defense, they say a lot about our attitude toward crime and criminals.
The hazing is real, the murders alleged. The article stakes out a broad social critique, and then spirals down to focus on one obviously disturbed young man.
In Akbar’s case, it should be noted, harassment might have been just part of the problem. Soldiers testified at his preliminary military court proceedings this summer that he was known for strange behavior, a flaw he does not deny. At his Ft. Campbell, Ky., Army base and in the Kuwaiti desert awaiting combat in Iraq, he often seemed aloof and confused. Soldiers recalled him pacing aimlessly, talking to himself, laughing and smiling at nothing. Army superiors said he was passed over for promotions, given second and third chances to shape up and then reassigned to more mundane duties.
…
But despite these advances, his performance began to falter and his superiors began noticing odd behavior. His conduct mystified them, leaving them at a loss to explain his sudden changes. It ultimately led to his being frozen out of future promotions.
Several superiors testified at Akbar’s preliminary military court proceedings that he was late for assignments. On a training exercise to Louisiana, where he was in charge of making sure other soldiers brought their gear, officers said he forgot his duffel bag. He misplaced his dogtags. On the day of the Sept. 11 attacks, when the base was on high alert, he showed up at the gate without his ID badge, the supervisors said.
Army officers said they found him asleep in training classes. They watched him sneak into Army vehicles and try to sleep away the afternoon. He could not keep up with physical exercise, they said, a failing for any sergeant expected to lead troops. He walked aimlessly, sometimes talking or laughing to himself.
There’s an interesting story to be done…about how an Army with a substantial number of Muslim soldiers – at war with a Muslim nation – manages the obvious conflicts of fellowship and anger. There is a story about the tragic intersection of events in the Kuwait desert that cost two lives – un-named, unremarked except as “It was kind of an ugly scene there,” said Capt. Terence Bacon, one of the wounded. “A lot of noise. A lot of screaming. A lot of blood.” A good story might have balanced the lives of the dead and the accused and made us wonder how their lives diverged.
Instead we’re treated to a story which does two things. It humanizes a man who we trained to be a killer and who may well instead have become a murderer, breaking the ground for a sympathetic defense. And it lays the blame for the incident fully on the institution, not the individual.
Actually, it does a third, which is to remind me once again how the internal bias and contradictions in the modern corporate media are so damn maddening.
Not to be snide or anything, but this IS the L.A. Times we’re talking about.
Defense lawyers analyze these things without a lot of emotion, and know where the media’s biases, blind spots, and sympathetic ears can be found. All it takes to produce idiotic stories like this is one fool reporter/editor team, and the supply isn’t exactly running low.
Which is why these kinds of stories won’t go away any time soon. The best one might hope for would be public outrage that makes the editors a bit more cautious the next time… but in Hollywood? Yeah, right.
It has nothing to do with the media being “corporate” and everything to do with reporters and editors being talentless hacks. This story is the crime reporting equivalent of reprinting a press release: all the reporter had to do was “finesse” what the defense team handed him.
IMHO, the biggest institutional failure of this war has been in the press. They have been given hundreds of opportunities to do serious, honest work and have pissed most of them away.
This is a recurring theme: Where the evidence that the accused did the act is overwhelming, and there is no chance for a plea bargain because the only outcome the gov’t will accept is the severest possible sentence.
So defense lawyers like myself have to pull some defense, ’cause you can’t just surrender, no matter what Bill O’Reilly thinks.
Usually this is some variation on the insanity or diminished mental capacity defense.
You play the best hand the facts and the law deal you.
It’s not that surprising that reporters think the only sympathetic U.S. serviceman is the one who killed his comrades.
How did that banner go?
“We support the troops – when they shoot their officers”
Though many people issue protestations that they support the troops but not the mission, for at least some of them, that’s not really true; they have a visceral dislike of the military and of the sort of people who join it.
I’m not saying this is true of all. But it’s certainly true of at least a set, especially in the literary (which included journalistic) subculture. For most (again, not all), they are really stubbornly ignorant of the military and the sort of people in it. They fill in the gaps in their knowledge with their prejudices – and so, naturally, this poor man is just a victim; he’s a minority, ethnically and religiously, and they can imagine how redneck gun-nuts committed to a violent institution, who have vollenteered their services as mercenaries in neocolonialist enterprises to seize the oil of others serving a neoconservative bid for global hegemony would treat such a misguided youth who found spiritual solace in a religion they despise and don’t understand.
As far as the corporate press goes – well, you’ll find *worse* in the “alternative”, non-corporate press.
I was told by Sgt. Hasan Akbar that, his intention was to go to Kuwait and do his job. Three soldiers are invovled in this case.Their names are not mention. Why? They names are: Sgt. Brandt Scott, Sgt. Scott Kumm and Sgt. Cardell. These are the soldiers that threated Sgt. Hasan Akbar. Sgt. Hasan Akbar stated: That they say directly to him: “We are going to kill Muslims.” well, I am here to said, that Sgt. Hasan Akbar is a Muslim. How do we know, it these soldiers set Sgt. Hasan Akbar up to be kill and they mis the target.
Quran, are you trying to say that Akbar didn’t commit the attack at all or that he was justified in doing so?
I will put it, like this, I heard no confession to any crime.
Whenever Two lives are taken, all the facts should be put on the table. The facts are not answers in themselves, they are part of the problem. But we hope that when we put them all together we will see the problem because when you put confusion together, it takes a form and permits you to identify that form.
Sgt. Brandt Scott, Sgt. Scott Kumm, and
Sgt. Cardell are part of the facts.
That isn’t an answer. And frankly, if you are trying to imply that Akbar was “justified” by some form of harrassment, I won’t accept harrassment as an excuse for murder.
I said nothing about harrassment, you say that. I said, he was setup. And bring all the facts to the table. And we all will know the true.
Well, I reckon that’s why there’s going to be a trial.
THANK YOU!
Allahu Akbar
THANK YOU!
Allahu Akbar
He was setup? Did someone else commit the crime – the grenade attack? If so, who? These kind of vague insinuations of conspiracy do not impress us much.
The devil was a great deceiver, and enemy of God, and that he wished to be the victor, with his knowledge of superior arts in deceiving the people of God. He desires to cast them down, disgrace them and make them accept his deceit.
Worldly and evil men are surprised at the renewal of Truth and Righteousness: but righteousness has more power than worldly strength.
Robin, you keep asking me that same question. And, I keep telling you, that Sgt. Hasan Akbar did not tell me, he committed that crime and you never heard him confess to it. I don’t know who did it. [They got the wrong Man.] The media is the only one that said he did it. You should reach out for the truth. You know the media, never tell the whole truth.
I ask you that question because you make vague insinuations without any substance.
Robin, You keeping asking me the same question, and I keep telling you that Sgt. Hasan Akbar did not tell me he committed that crime. And you never heard him confess to it. You should reach out for the truth. You know the media, never tell the whole truth.
What I’m reaching out for, Bilal, is any substance for your statements. And I find none.
Well, this traitor needs to be executed for murdering fellow soldiers in a combat zone. Even if he was ridiculed about his religion, it’s no excuse for committing cowardly and despicable murders. Akbar has no defense.
You say that he is a traiter, well what do you call those who went against him and discriminated him. Aren’t they considered traitors as well. Obviously not to you. NOBODY has any evidence that it was him. Not only that but you don’t know the WHOLE story. The media doesn’t say all. Or have we not noticed that in this day of age.
No, Brandette, they aren’t. The word “traitor” has a very specific meaning, and that isn’t it. And of course, we hear the same “no evidence” canard that was repeated after 9/11 re: Osama.
One day, more Muslims will be willing to stand up and admit that the religion as currently practiced has some serious issues. Unfortunately, there aren;t enough Irshad Manjis around… yet.
I am a muslim and I do agree that there are some issues but i guess i feel that way because i have not been a muslim long. I guess the statement that i was trying to make is that we can’t call everyone a traitor if we don’t know the whole story. But if you don’t consider them traitors then what do you consider them? I know what they did is no extent to what my brother did but i feel that the incident with the other men was uncalled for.
“But if you don’t consider them traitors then what do you consider them?
I don’t know the whole story, but if he was harassed or discriminated against then words like: “incompetent,” bigoted,” idiots,” or “deserving of disciplinary action” may apply. Depending on their rank, “unfit for command” may be used.
But “treason” and related terms like “sedition” have very specific meanings, and they don’t fit.
What is beyond question, is that grenades were used to attack a tent full of senior officers while a war was in progress, causing deaths and serious injuries. That isn’t an allegation, that’s a fact.
If Hassan Akbar did it as alleged, then he is at the very least a murder who has committed an idefensible act in the eyes of Allah. If Sgt. Akbar DOES consider his actions defensible before Allah, then the only rationalization he can use is jihad and solidarity with another Muslim nation. And if that’s true, then yes… Sgt. Akbar would fit the accepted definition of “traitor.”
So, we have three options here:
[1] He didn’t do it. I find that unlikely, but it’s possible.
[2] He did it and he is both subject to punishment in this life, and an evildoer with no defense before Allah in the next. Contrast with Ali, who would not murder for his ego;
[3] Sgt. Akbar did it, and he is a traitor in this life, but he has a defense before Allah in the next (which may or may not work – I don’t give it great odds, myself…)
This is in the hands of military justice now. Divine justice is out of our hands, but in time it too will come.
Mrs. Akbar, your son was attached to my battalion during his brief stay in Kuwait. My tent was less than 20 yards from his. He saw me almost every day and my tent was marked with my battalion flag. I spoke to his platoon daily and his platoon leader and sergeant at least twice a day. I went to his tent two to three times a week to see the construction his platoon was involved in. Your son never stood out in the sea of soldiers I spoke to on a daily bases, but I was a clear and obvious presence in the camp. The officers your son allegedly attacked were over 3/4’s of a mile away from our tent area. I was lucky to find COL Hodges and his staff in their tents and I had daily contact with them…to find their tents you had to deliberately seek them out. It took me a week to find them on my own in the dark. If your son was distraught, abused, humiliated, shamed, or confused…he could have walked 20 yards and spoken with me at anytime. I still don’t understand why he didn’t feel he could do this; I had soldiers approach and speak to me everyday. I even had a bench outside my tent where I spent time talking to soldiers about all types of moral, ethical, and marital issues. I’m also confused why, if he felt killing officers was the solution to his problems, he didn’t just walk 20 yards and kill me and my staff. We were a much easier and more accessible target. To kill and wound the brigade staff, he had to plan, recon, rehearse, attack at night, turn off lights, and move undercover over ¾’s of a mile to make his statement. His act, which he openly admitted to members of the brigade staff, was deliberate, well organized, and premeditated. It was an act of a man who knew who to attack, when to attack, and how to attack. I wish you and your family no ill will and hope that we all can learn from this in our own way. But, a lot of innocent men were killed and wounded that night and two young children are growing up without fathers. Not because the chain of command was corrupt or immoral, not because your son was oppressed or abused, and not because we were doing something illegal. I don’t know what motivated your son…only he can answer that question. The truth is, he was caught 15 feet from the murder scene with a grenade in his mask carrier, he had deliberately left his guard post and the ammunition he was guarding was missing…he had it. He was over ¾’s of a mile from where he should have been in the middle of the night and his personal weapon still had cordite residue fumes and powder in the barrel. He also confessed to xxx outstanding combat veterans once he was apprehended. The evidence that night was overwhelming. Yet, he is still innocent until he is proven otherwise. I have been tracking the proceedings and I think the process has been more than fair to date.
I hope this note will help you to understand the facts, as I saw them, that horrible night. I didn’t want to believe that a Noncommissioned officer in the 101st Airborne Division would kill his fellow soldiers, but the facts were indisputable. There is no media spin in this email, only my personal observations. I’m not sending this to criticize or condemn, I’m only sending it to you to provide you some comfort. I have older children and I know this must be very, very difficult for you and your family…but as a father, I have learned that healing only begins when all parties involved accept responsibility and the truth in his or her actions. Excuses, denials, lies to cover even more lies, make forgiveness more and more difficult as each day passes.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact my email above.
Very Respectfully,
Chris
I was stationed at Ft. Knox during Sgt. Akbar’s Art. 32 hearing. I was a Military Police Officer assigned to the 34th MP DET. Special Reaction Team. We conducted the PSD mission during his trial and for his physcological Evaluation at the Louisville Hospital in Kentucky. I did not know this man on a personal level or a professional level. But I was around him long enough to know that he is a seriously disturbed individual. He would look into my eyes, or any other of the PSD team member’s eyes as if we were the guilty ones. As if we’ve committed the crime and we would pay for what we’ve done. It was a pure look of anger, hate and intimidation. Even though we were armed and he was in restraints, you felt that at any moment he would break free and lunge at you. I’m sorry but this man is guilty in my eyes. The evidence is over whelming and the facts are all in. And those that don’t believe him to be guilty should have their heads checked as well. I saw no remorse in ths mans eyes, no concern for the families he destroyed. No amount of threat’s or mistreatment from his fellow soldiers or NCO’s is a valid excuse for what he did. I’ll show no compassion for him or his beliefs, and I’ll make no appologies for my statements or opinions. He deserves to sit in a prison cell for the rest of his life and reflect on the decision’s that he has made. This has nothing to do with the fact that he is a muslim. Discrimination of race or religion only come into play because people voice their opinions and agree that he is guilty of murder. And we feel that way only because of his beliefs. That’s a bunch of bullshit. You can be Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, a budhist priest for all I care. He’s not guilty because he is a muslim, it’s not because he’s of a different nationality. It’s because he murdered his fellow soldiers, that’s why!! nothing more and nothing less. Where’s Judge Dredd when you need him? But the defense will try to justify his actions.Because every man is entitled to a fair trial. Try telling that to the families he’s torn apart and destroyed.
I visited my son many times in Fort Knox, Ky. Where he was detained. My son stated to me many times, about how his life was threaten by his superior officers. He stated that they threaten to kill him. They told him he was the enemy. For three weeks, they mistreated him, isolated him from the other soldiers. He was the only African American soldier in his platoon, and he stated that the word nigger was used. It was told that the Majors, Commanders, and etc… knew what was happening. They just ignored the situation, this was negligent on their part. Sgt. Hasan Akbar stated that he was given drugs a day before the attack occurred, by one of his superior officer. He was given orders to setup front, when they go out. Sgt. Akbar stated that his fear for his life, because he knew that wasn’t his position (out of rank). Later on that day, his superior officer threaten to kill him, ridicule his religion and stated indecent remarks. Nothing was done, they only laughed. We requested for a drug test. The Military Atty. stated that a drug test was given and the result was clean. But, when we requested for another drug test and wanted to see the results from the blood test that were taken in Kuwait. It was reported that no blood test was taken, because the facility was not equipped to do that job. The media stated that it was the largest facility in Kuwait. Military Atty. Lt. Hansen call and asked me to write a letter, to one of the General in Kuwait to proof that Sgt. Hasan Akbar is a Human Being. I question him, I asked “are we dealing with people who think we are not Human Being?” He acknowledged with a silent. Sgt Hasan Akbar stated, that he put in for conscinous objector, it was blocked, they refuse to accept it. Sgt. Hasan Akbar stated: he went to his superior officer while he was in America, and said to him, “I don’t think that, I could kill Muslims”. The reply was, “if you don’t kill Muslims, I will kill you.” Is this how America treat their soldiers? If any of you know anything about war, you should know that, during wartime, there are a difference set of rules and respect you have for a soldier, who is put his life of the line for his country. How would you feel if your superior officers call you the enemy, threaten to kill you, laughting and making indecent remarks about your religion, that you believe in, that will help you through this war? How would you feel? Would you feel safe going off to war with them? What kind of spirit you will have to fight with? Are you confuse who the enemy are? Think about it! Be honest. Where and what should happen to those soldiers,that created and set the time bomb. tick, tick, tick…Let face the facts this is during wartime, where is a soldier respect. You do not turn against a soldier during wartime, if you do there are results. A crime was committee before Sgt. Hasan Akbar, was accused of this crime. If that soldier was unfit, they should have set him down! What was the plan? All I know is, God is the best of planners. And to those of you who speaks about Allah, and don’t know, I said to you…I worship not that which you worship, Nor will you worship that which I worship, And I will not worship that which you have been wont to worship, Nor will you worship that which I worship, To you be your way, and to me mine.
[Comment removed by A.L. for tone]
Mr Danziger, I most humbly apologise. I promise never again will I lampoon nice murderers, or apologists for murder, again.
Actually, I am coming around to the idea that muderers are actually the salt of the Earth. We must never censor their defenders, either for tone, or indeed content.
Amd what is more, they must never be subject to ridicule, or satire, for they are fragile and in need of continuous nurture.
Most importantly, we must immediately destroy those Polish concentration camp sites. I think we could cover them with concrete, and erect signs that say….
“Comment removed for tone”
Interesting that we return to this thread nearly two years later.
But not as interesting as contrasting the change in defense from Bilal above. Where before there was a denial of the crime, now Bilal appears to be justifying it.
Balil- some quick thoughts:
1. Fact: We left dozens of soldiers behind at Fort Campbell who were not prepared for war. Most were young soldiers with physical, family, or mental problems. They were of all races, religions, and gender. If you were not competent to go…you didn’t go!
2. Fact: Most of the soldiers left behind were not leaders…SERGEANTs are leaders. If a soldier becomes a sergeant he/she must be competent enough to lead small groups of men. Seems counter intuitive for a soldier who claims he was treated so badly to be promoted to a higher rank and put in charge of soldiers.
3. Fact: Your son swore an oath to “Uphold and Defend the Constitution of the United States of America against all enemies foreign and domestic, to obey the orders of the President of the United States and the officers appointed over him”. When actually called to perform his duty, he decided to ignore his officers, his president, and his country. If he and you feel his actions were justified…then why hasn’t he accepted responsibility for his decision? Why is he suddenly confused?
4. Fact: As you stated above “If any of you know anything about war, you should know that, during wartime, there are a difference set of rules and respect you have for a soldier, who is put his life of the line for his country”. Well, I’m not sure what YOU know about war, but as someone who has fought in combat please know that your statement is not true—the set of rules for respect never change in the Military whether in war or in peace—and by the way, your son NEVER PUT HIS LIFE ON THE LINE FOR HIS COUNTRY—HE AVOIDED SERVING HIS COUNTRY WITH A VENGENCE. The only line he stood on was a row of tents full of soldiers—attacking them in their sleep. Who was the threat, who was prejudice, who was immoral, who was a murder, who was a traitor—YOUR SON!
5. Fact: As you stated above “Are you confused who the enemy are?”—YES WE WERE, we trusted your son, a leader then he murdered his own men. If we hated and distrusted his so much, why in God’s name would we have given him responsibility for guarding our ammunition supply point? Sounds like we trusted him and he didn’t trust us—so he, without remorse, deliberately planned, coordinated, and executed and well thought out deliberate attack on his unit at night.
How can anyone defend such a premeditated, well organized, cowardice attack on ones friends, brothers, and fellow soldiers?
well i see that alot of you are blind to what really goes on in the military i was a marine and a muslim and i know that non muslim nonafrican amerikkkans can put alot of pressure on a person who is not of thier kind and i had one of your fine officers tell me that he was going to kill me because of my religion while in combat but i handled it diffrent and i went all the way to the commandant of the corps and was dischared because of it.
http://www.danielpipes.org/blog/443
those of you who think this man is innocent go to the sight above.
want my opinion he shoud sit in a 4×6 cell for at least 40 yrs never see the light of day then on March 23 while he is asleep lob grenades at him just to injure him then stand him up in front of a firing squad of the men that he injured
Bilal,
You are absolutely right…you Do Not turn against a soldier in War…however YOUR SON DID! Lets quit making excuses with regards to race, religion, etc and face the facts your son murdered innocent man and needs to pay the price. Its a good thing I’m not on the jury.
What the hell does you being a quitter, have to do with one of your brothers murdering his own? The muslim religion is still killing more people than it is saving.
I am a muslim American woman who is sick of stupid ignorant arrogant people calling Islam to be the cause of all ills in the world. Islam is beautiul and perfect, but there are and has always been throughout history people who are imperfect who used religion to justify their crimes. I don’t know much about Mr. Akbar and whether he is guilty or not. Only a fair court of law will prove that. However, it doesn’t need a genious to figure out that if he actually committed the crime (which is not justified regardless of the reasons) he must be either mentally unstable or underwent enough bullying from fellow soldiers that led him to decide to commit this act. We are all human beings,We all seek to live in peace and prosperity and it is very ignorant and naive to assume that some people are born bad by nature (like muslims are described in some venues) and others are good by nature. I learnt that the best way to understand a situation is to put yourself into the shoes of the people involved. If he was bullied and harrassed because of his religion, He should have pursuied other channels to deal with his problems, not to go out and kill his fellow soldiers who trusted him, but everyone of us is different and we react to situations based on our backgrounds and personalities. I feel sorry for him to have wasted his life like this, I feel sorry for his mom, may God help her to withstand this agony, I feel sorry for the victims and their families and their loss. It is a sad situation for everyone involved. I am sure that the army like any large institution is not made of angels and there should be lessons learnt from this tradegy to improve the lives of all the soldiers especially at this critical time.
Nothing is perfect.
Mona,
First of all I didnt see anybody blaming muslims for ALL of the world ills. You obviously have no clue as to the workings of the military. If you are that tired of ignorant people in reference to your religion why don’t you move to the middle east..where everything is perfect…say Saudi or Iraq, or perhaps Iran where the population is 99% Islamic and I am sure you would be much happier and as a woman treated much better than you are here.
Ok let us put this into prospective. Catholics are not murdering innocent people, Christians are not murdering innocent people, Jews are not murdering innocent people, Hell I cannot think of any religion that is murdering innocent people just because they do not believe in the same things that they do. Unlike Muslims that must kill infidels in combat so that they can get 1000 virgins when they get to where ever the hell it is that you people go. In addition, for the idiot that said “I know that non muslim nonafrican amerikkkans can put alot of pressure on a person who is not of thier kind” let me tell you I had Blacks, Whites, Females, Muslims, and Mexicans as soldiers and I never treated them any differently they were all treated the same. And that went for my entire company WE WERE ALL TREATED THE SAME. And if that makes “non muslim and non African” people like me prejudice well then I guess I am prejudice. And you say African have you ever been to Africa I have and the true African wants peace and harmony with the rest of the world they are kind and loving people. But blacks in America that were born and raised here regardless if they are muslim or not do not know the first thing about the African people so if you were born in America doesn’t that make you nonafrican. And an amerikkkan
Crying Towel,
This is the second time I write in a blog like this and will be my last because I don’t have time to waste with arrogant people like you who think they know it all. You are exactly the type of person I described as (IGNORANT) about my religion. I never said I knew anything about the military, or Mr. Akbar. I am just stating my personal opinion as I happened to browse in the CNN website and noticed the story. It is true that nothing is perfect in this world but in my humble opinion I believe ISLAM and the QURAN are perfect because I read, understood and am doing my best to practice what they teach. First of all, a country that has a majority population of muslims doesn’t make it a muslim country. That is exactly like labeling Italy, a country with majority Christians or even the United States a Christian country. There is no country in the world today that can claim to be implementing Islam as God intended it to be or any other religion for that matter, including places like Saudi Arabia which picks to implement the bits from Islam that suit its oppresive government and leave the rest. Non muslims always mix culture and Islam and sadly “SOME” muslims out of ignorance or laziness to study their own religion or if it serves their interests like some male chauvinist pigs, do exactly the same, especially when it comes to women. These so called muslims do more harm to their religion than anyone else. If people really practice the ethics of Islam which encourage people to think and seek knowledge,call for rights of human and all living things, democracy, equality for everyone muslims and non muslims, freedom of speech,etc… and all the beautiful values that the West nowadays claim to have invented, everyone will have a better chance to live in peace.
For the retired SGT who is referring to the killing of infidels and non muslims and the 1000 virgins reward , this very comment that is completely out of context is the epitomy of stupidity and ignorance. It is an insult to my intelligence to even consider talking about this. Before judging, please read and educate yourself from reliable sources about the subject you are talking about, don’t just parrot what you heard in the media, because you obviously don’t have a clue.
Mona, Crying Tower, Sgt.:
Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall see God.
That’s from the Beatitudes, some of Christ’s teachings. Just think how lovely the world could be if we followed more of those teachings. And though I’m no expert, what I have heard about Islam also contains beautiful seeking for peace and harmony.
Some of the things Jesus is quoted as saying aren’t so lovely, such as that you should hate your father and your mother and essentially leave your family if it doesn’t follow Jesus’ teachings. Some of Muhammad’s teachings approach that kind of behavior.
My reading is that we do well to follow the best in anyone’s religion, and sincerely urge them to do the same.
Mona Im still a little a confused, about you and your religion. I know am ignorant, however in your holier than thou speech you quote on one hand about expressing ones self and freedom of speech and then on the other you are calling people ignorant because they don’t approve of you or your pagan religion. You are the one who needs to get a clue
Just kill him and get it over with !
Amen brother! I’m with you
“Hell I cannot think of any religion that is murdering innocent people just because they do not believe in the same things that they do. “
A bit more prospective…
-One of the fastest-growing hate groups in the 1990s is the World Church of the Creator (WCOTC), based in East Peoria, Illinois, whose stated goal is “making this an all-white nation and ultimately an all-white world.”:http://www.adl.org/backgrounders/wcotc.asp
– “The Patriot movement”:http://www.publiceye.org/tooclose/chapter-excerpt.html was bracketed on the reformist side by the Birch Society and the conspiracist segment of the Christian Right, and on the insurgent side by the Liberty Lobby and groups promoting themes historically associated with White supremacy and antisemitism.-
– FRONTLINE profiles two young men—Shlomo Dvir and Yarden Morag—who planned to set off a bomb at a Palestinian girls school just as hundreds of young students arrived in the morning. The timing was carefully designed to harm as many children as possible. “It was my idea,” says Shlomo Dvir in an exclusive interview from an Israeli prison. “Whoever gets hurt, gets hurt.” “Most Israelis reacted with shock and horror when Dvir and Morag’s plan was revealed—but a small minority refused to condemn them.”:http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/israel/view/
The first excerpt is in regards to a group of “Christians” and their interpretation of religious doctrine. The second is in reference to some thing called the “Christian” Patriot movement. One of the primary motivations sited by Timothy James McVeigh when he bombed the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in hopes of starting a “Turner Diary” style race war. The third, is in regards to followers of the founder of the Jewish Defense League “Rabbi” Meir Kahane.
That Hassan Akbar used religion as the motivation for what he has now been convicted of, is far from unique. Justification for all manner of abhorrent acts has been found in all religious text.
i was a soldier in the 326 engineer battalion with akbar, whom i knew as kools in those days. yes he was strange, does that mean anything other than he wasn’t a blind member of a herd? no, by itself no. did he commit a crime? i don’t know, i wasn’t there. if he did do those things, is it a crime? by man’s law, yes. the article talks about it being wrong to humanize a man we trained to be a killer and _instead_turned into a murderer. what? killing people because your government says it’s okay doesn’t change the fact that you’re murdering people. it’s the soldier’s burden. and it sickens me to hear the hate most americans justify out of fear and ignorance. and honestly, those don’t even deserve a moment of my time. he is a human. period. the people of iraq are human. the soldiers that die in this war are human. you can’t de-humanize anyone. ultimately i think, if he did commit those acts of murder, that he chose the wrong path. just as i think this government chose the wrong path. just like the masterminds of 9/11 chose the wrong path. as per religion, i abide by this: religion is for people afraid of going to hell, spirituality is for those that’ve been there. and as per government and law, it was created and is run by people. therefore will always be flawed, since there has yet to be a perfect person. so my final opinion: all is fair in love and war. [not original, but appropriate]
“a soldier” gives us a very suspicious sounding posting. It lacks authenticity. It also implies things about Akbar and his unit that were not true.
I’ve found the odd postings in this thread attempting to deny or explain away Akbar very suspicious and I doubt the authenticity of them all frankly.
Personall resposibility is what it all comes down to. H knew what he was doing, consequences must follow as they do to us all
Its easy, those attempting to kill me are not humans, they are dead meat.
Those defending a butcher unwilling to surrender are not humans, they are the enemy, they are not humans untill the surrender.
The defenders of a regime standing on mass graves of kids, that kidnap 14 year old kids for weekend sex toys and live tiger food, are not humans, they are monsters to be exterminated.
We now have the luxury of precision weapons to limit the deaths of the innocent whom we give a chance at freedom. Thats nice, it fits with our morality that is superior to our enemy, the regime.
We certainly proved this in Afganistan and Iraq.
Leftism is a religion too, if how they have reacted to this war isnt proof enough, their mountain of 170+ Million skulls will do.
All the leftist defenses of this creature tells us nothing about this creature, but it does inform about the nature of its defenders.
I see Akbar received the death penalty in his court-martial. Appropriately so, in my opinion.
Im with you Robin…eye for an eye…lets get it over with
I Quran the mother of Sgt. Hasan Akbar, I must said to my sister who stated that she feel sorry for me. Don’t feel sorry for me, feel sorry for America. And for the Sgt. who want to see my son dead, who know nothing about war. My son didn’t turn against his fellow soldiers, they turn against him. Every man have a right to live and to protect his life. If my son was a bad soldier, why was he there. I didn’t said that he was a bad or unfit soldier, it was in the report by the military. Why was he there? Why put an unfit soldier in your ranks, that is not safe. Something is wrong. Stop looking at the facts that your white brothers are down. There are others soldiers involve in this case too, you know it and I know. MY son had a lot going for himself, he wouldn’t throw his life away for a group of unfit commanders, Captains and etc… who wasn’t strong enouge to stand up for the truth.
This man murdered my friend, I will celebrate his execution
If you are going to defend Sgt Akbar by throwing out peoples names, at least have the names correct. I know the names because my husband is one of the men. He is also one of many that Sgt Akbar wanted to kill. The correct names are Sgt. Scott Brandt, SFC Daniel Kumm, and SSGT Charles Cordell. I have had Hassan in my home. For him to say that he was treated differently because of his religion is unfounded. My husband, SSGT Cordell, is also the same person who had to sign Hassan into post on 9/11 because his military name tag did not match his military I.D. card. Akbar/Mccool. You see the confusion of the guards? Not because his religion. Because Hassan failed to properly complete his task yet again. Name tag and id card did not match. It is true that Hassan was acting strangely the day that they deployed. Talking to himself even. He went anyway. Everyone was to go. When I was told that Hassan wanted to kill my husband. I was stunned. My husband takes pride in taking care of every single soldier he has. At the time of deployment, Hassan was no longer my husbands soldier. He was too much trouble. I am grateful that Hassan never had the chance to kill my husband. My husband is fortunate to be able to see his 3 children every day and our grandsons. The men that Hassan killed, will never have that chance. For that, I am deeply saddened for their families. To Hassans mother; My heart aches for you, because your child will be put to death. Something I am sure you never saw in his future. My husband would never, and never did threaten Hassans life. My husband did his job and he did it well. SSGT Charles Cordell earned the respect of his soldiers, command, and his family having served in Desert Storm, Shield and Iraqi Freedom. Never blame my husband for something that was totally within Hassans hands and mind. He chose. Apparently he chose wrong.
Reading this numerous times I feel that I must defend the men that Akbar is blaming. My husband is SFC Brandt and he was accused by Akbar for making comments that were detrimental to Hassan’s mindset. First, I am fully aware of the comments made, situation it was in, and the fact that the comments were said days before the soldiers going to war. As a matter of fact, Hassan called the platoon sergeant and asked if the comments were true and the platoon sergeant stated “No it was a bad joke” and then my husband also told Hassan that it was a joke about a movie they were watching and that it was in poor taste but it was not true.
Hassan has been in my home, met are families and friends, and we were always kind to him. My husband assisted him numerous times and did what he could to help Akbar. There was never a question about race or religion that has been stated in previous messages.
Any one who knows my husband will tell you that he would give the shirt off of his back to help anyone. He put his soldiers first and spent a great deal of time trying to prepare them for the unthinkable. Did they know what they were going to face? No…they did not know and did they need to get their mindset for going to war…YES!
Akbar made a chose before leaving country what he was going to do. I am fully aware of the diary and the “hit list” with my husbands name on it. By the way, it was written prior to them leaving which in my opinion means PREMEDITATED murder not self defense. Did the military fail Akbar..perhaps..he obviously has a disturbed view of reality and perhaps he shouldn’t of been set over. In the same manner, he reenlisted and knew that there was a possibility of going to war and if he was not willing to do that he should of never held his hand up and sworn to protect the United States. He shouldn’t of collected the pay and reaped the benefits.
He made a chose and he will pay the consequences. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of him and the men that lost their lives and their families. I am thankful that the lord has protected my husband and he is coming home from his 3rd tour in Iraq. My husband has committed his life in protecting our freedoms and has since been promoted twice from this horrible ordeal. Akbar took lives but he didn’t take the pride of the Engineers and the love of country that we all have.
Signed proudly by an Army wife,
M. Brandt
[Drive-by by probable sockpuppet. Banned. If you care to appeal, contact AL or Joe using the addresses in the right hand margin.–NM]